Athearn Challenger/UP Excursion Train?

Spookshow Jun 25, 2013

  1. Spookshow

    Spookshow TrainBoard Member

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    It looks like it's going to work. So far so good, anyway -

    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]

    -Mark
     
  2. Spookshow

    Spookshow TrainBoard Member

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    Finished up the last of the easy ones -

    [​IMG]

    Now I just need to mix up some paint for Sherman Hill that's going to match all these Kato cars...

    Cheers,
    -Mark
     
  3. Phillip33

    Phillip33 TrainBoard Member

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    Looks good Mark.
    Cant wait to see the consist put together.
    Phillip
     
  4. Spookshow

    Spookshow TrainBoard Member

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    I decided to go ahead and mangle a Kato baggage-dorm into #207 (and then paint Sherman Hill and #207 at the same time). Lots of windows and doors to add and/or cover up there, so that should keep me busy for a while. Maybe we'll see some progress on the water bottles in the interim? :)

    Cheers,
    -Mark
     
  5. James Norris

    James Norris TrainBoard Supporter

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    Hi Mark,

    I should have some good images ready after this weekend, will have the 1[SUP]st[/SUP] of 2 types of trucks ready and the basic shell. Researching the trucks I found 3 types,

    The original,
    up-water-car-022.jpg
    The original on the 8500 turbine at The Illinois Railway Museum,

    Turbine.jpg


    The original with roller Barings, which is the final product,
    up-water-car-021.jpg

    And these, but I think these where on the shorter tenders for the smaller turbines?
    upvanderbilttender.jpg


    I have the original almost done. Here is shot from a week ago as a teaser.

    Comonwelth Truck.png
    It was still rough at that point.

    Time has been short as of late due to work commitments (boo) and that big yellow thing in the sky, after many years absence it has decided to spend some time here in the UK so I have been making the most of it.

    But this weekend I will put some time into the water bottles!

    James
     
  6. James Norris

    James Norris TrainBoard Supporter

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    Regarding the truck bolster, do you think it should be centered on the truck, as the original and similar to the Bachmann short Vandy tender, meaning that the center axel has to be removed in order to remove the truck or between the 1st and 2nd axel, as on the Con-Core 4-6-4 tender trucks, so the center axel can remain in the truck?
     
  7. Spookshow

    Spookshow TrainBoard Member

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    I'd think having it off-center would probably be better - unless there's some structural/performance downside to that?

    Cheers,
    -Mark
     
  8. James Norris

    James Norris TrainBoard Supporter

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    I don’t think there will be, the over hang at the center of the car will be increased on curves as the pivot points are further apart but at this scale it will be negligible. Off center it is then. Here is a running update.

    Comonwelth Truck2.png

    Cheers,

    James
     
  9. Spookshow

    Spookshow TrainBoard Member

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    Sweet! :)

    -Mark
     
  10. Phillip33

    Phillip33 TrainBoard Member

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    :cool:
    Sweet indeed!
    Phillip
     
  11. James Norris

    James Norris TrainBoard Supporter

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    Here are two shots of truck, original....
    Comonwelth Truck4.png
    and with roller bearings.
    Comonwelth Truck3.png
    I am not shore how I feel about the brakes. In order to make them printable, for now anyway, they are on the side of the frame and not actually over the wheel, this is a Bachmann trick. From the side they look great but technically they are wrong. I will leave it for now and get on with the main car body.

    Also I noticed the micro trains wheels are a slightly larger diameter than the ones I have scaled from the original! Can’t figure that one out, Maybe its me! The microtrains fit in the truck well but the brake shoes will be within the wheel. See below…..
    Comonwelth Truck5.png
    All that said, this is N scale, will it be visible?

    Any thoughts?

    Cheers for now,

    James
     
  12. Carl Sowell

    Carl Sowell TrainBoard Supporter

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    James,

    I am, by no means, an expert scratch builder but I will tell you my thinking. First off, thanks for taking on this project. I may be interested in getting a water bottle as well as others. This is N scale and I don't think that most people would see anything wrong with the trucks. The 5 foot rule applies and I think they would be great. Most folks that would see this running on a club layout wouldn't understand anything about the difference anyway.

    Thanks again for the work.

    Carl
     
  13. Spookshow

    Spookshow TrainBoard Member

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    Looks darned good to me!

    -Mark
     
  14. James Norris

    James Norris TrainBoard Supporter

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    Fair enough, I will leave them as they are for now. Just so I get my names right, are these Commonwealth Trucks?

    Cheers,

    James
     
  15. Spookshow

    Spookshow TrainBoard Member

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    Commonwealth seems right. That's what Overland calls them on their brass FEF tenders, anyhow.

    Cheers,
    -Mark
     
  16. ATSF5078

    ATSF5078 TrainBoard Member

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    Ok I got my replacement challenger and although it runs fairly well I've noticed that when running it the engine and tender don't track centered but rather the front of each both walk to the right so it's askew. Also the pilot truck has a wobble when negotiating curves. Does anyone else have this problem? I might need to send it back for a third, or call Athearn.
     
  17. Spookshow

    Spookshow TrainBoard Member

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    It sounds like your tender drawbar is missing its centering spring. A number of Big Boys from the most recent production run had the same problem -

    [​IMG]

    -Mark
     
  18. ATSF5078

    ATSF5078 TrainBoard Member

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    It certainly is missing the centering spring. Also the drawbar isn't the same as pictured in the parts diagram. The engine end of the drawbar only has a kingpin loop, the diagram shows both ends to be the same with a spring. Does yours run straight with the engine and tender centered?
     
  19. Spookshow

    Spookshow TrainBoard Member

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    They changed the drawbar with this most recent production run (but apparently not the parts diagram). The old one was too complicated and gave their repair guys fits. Mine runs straight.

    -Mark
     
  20. James Norris

    James Norris TrainBoard Supporter

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    Here is an update on the water bottles.....
    UP Tender New2.png UP Tender New.png
     

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